Reclining Chair Assembly

ABSTRACT

A reclining chair assembly includes a reclining chair that has a backrest portion and a chair portion for having a user sit therein. A pair of footrests is each disposed on the chair portion of the reclining chair and each of the footrests is positionable in a lowered position or a raised position to raise the respective user&#39;s leg. Moreover, the pair of footrests is independently positionable in the raised position to facilitate one of the user&#39;s legs to be lifted while the other of the user&#39;s legs is not lifted. A pair of lifting units is each in mechanical communication with a respective one of the pair of footrests. Each of the lifting units independently urges the respective footrest into the raised position or the lowered position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to chair devices and more particularly pertains to a new chair device for lifting one or both of a user's legs.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to chair devices including a variety of chairs that include a footrest that can be lifted or lowered. The prior art discloses a table that includes a pair of leg support that can each be independently positioned in a raised position or a lowered position. The prior art discloses a recliner device that includes a pair of thigh supports for supporting each a user's thighs. The prior art discloses a tattoo chair that includes a pair of leg supports that are each independently movable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a reclining chair that has a backrest portion and a chair portion for having a user sit therein. A pair of footrests is each disposed on the chair portion of the reclining chair and each of the footrests is positionable in a lowered position or a raised position to raise the respective user's leg. Moreover, the pair of footrests is independently positionable in the raised position to facilitate one of the user's legs to be lifted while the other of the user's legs is not lifted. A pair of lifting units is each in mechanical communication with a respective one of the pair of footrests. Each of the lifting units independently urges the respective footrest into the raised position or the lowered position.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a reclining chair assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing one of a pair of footrests being raised.

FIG. 3 is a right side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing one of a pair of footrests being raised.

FIG. 5 is a top phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a left phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new chair device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the reclining chair assembly 10 generally comprises a reclining chair 12 has a backrest portion 14 that is disposed on a chair portion 16 for having a user 15 sit therein. The chair portion 16 has a forward surface 18 and the reclining chair 12 has a pair of armrests 20. The reclining chair 12 may be structured in the conventional manner of reclining chairs. A pair of footrests 22 is each disposed on the chair portion 16 of the reclining chair 12 such that each of the footrests 22 is aligned with a respective one of the user's legs 24 when the user 15 is seated in the reclining chair 12. The backrest portion 14 is independently operated and adjustable with respect to the footrests 22.

Each of the footrests 22 is positionable in a lowered position having the footrests 22 lying against the chair portion 16. Each of the footrests 22 is positionable in a raised position to raise the respective user's leg, ankle or foot 24. Moreover, each of the footrests 22 can be positioned at any point between the lowered position and the raised position. The pair of footrests 22 is independently positionable in the raised position, or to any position between the raised position and the lowered position, to facilitate one of the user's legs 24 to be lifted while the other of the user's legs 24 is not lifted. In this way the user 15 can relieve symptoms of gout, for example, in one leg, ankle or foot 24 without requiring the other leg, ankle or foot 24 to be lifted. Each of the footrests 22 has a front side 26 and a back side 28, and the back side 28 of a respective footrest 22 rests against the forward surface 18 of the chair portion 16 when the respective footrest 22 is in the lowered position. Conversely, the front side 26 of a respective footrest 22 is oriented to lie on, or up to, a horizontal plane when the respective footrest 22 is positioned in the raised position or a partially raised position to lift the respective user's leg, ankle or foot 24.

A pair of lifting units 30 is integrated into the reclining chair 12 and each of the lifting units 30 is in mechanical communication with a respective one of the pair of footrests 22. Each of the lifting units 30 independently urges the respective footrest 22 into a chosen degree of the raised position when the lifting units 30 are actuated into a raising condition. Conversely, each of the lifting units 30 independently urges the respective footrest 22 into the lowered position, or partially lowered position, when the lifting units 30 are actuated into a lowering condition. Each of the lifting units 30 comprises a motor 32 that is integrated into the reclining chair 12, and the motor 32 rotates in a first direction or a second direction.

Each of the lifting units 30 includes a linkage 34 which comprises a plurality of members 35 that is each pivotally coupled together. The linkage 34 is coupled between the motor 32 and the back side 28 of a respective footrest 22. The linkage 34 is manipulated into a collapsed position when the motor 32 rotates in the first direction such that the linkage 34 pulls the respective footrest 22 against the forward surface 18 of the chair portion 16. Conversely, the linkage 34 is manipulated into an extended position, either partially or fully, when the motor 32 rotates in the second direction such that the linkage 34 pushes the respective footrest 22 away from the forward surface 18 of the chair portion 16. Additionally, the linkage 34 tilts the respective footrest 22 when the linkage 34 is manipulated into or toward the extended position thereby facilitating the front side 26 of the respective footrest 22 to lie on or toward the horizontal plane. The linkage 34 may be structured in a similar fashion to existing linkages that are currently employed on existing reclining chairs.

A control panel 36 is integrated into a respective one of the armrests 20 on the reclining chair 12 such that the control panel 36 is accessible to the user 15. The control panel 36 is in mechanical communication with each of the lifting units 30 and the control panel 36 independently actuates each of the lifting units 30 in the raising condition or the lowering condition. The control panel 36 includes a right button 38, a left button 40, a both button 42, a lift button 44 and a lower button 46. The control panel 36 is electrically coupled to the motor 32 included in each of the lifting units 30.

The right button 38 actuates the motor 32 included in a right hand side lifting unit 48 and the left button 40 actuates the motor 32 included in a left hand side lifting unit 50. The both button 42 actuates the motor 32 included in both of the right hand side lifting unit 48 and the left hand side lifting unit 50 to a selectable angle. The motor 32 that is actuated is turned on to rotate in the first direction when the lower button 46 is depressed. Conversely, the motor 32 that is actuated is turned on to rotate in the second direction when the lift button 44 is depressed. The control panel 36 may include a backrest button for adjusting the angle of the backrest portion 14. A power supply 52 is integrated into the reclining chair 12 and the power supply 52 is electrically coupled to the control panel 36. The power supply 52 may comprise at least one battery or the power supply 52 may comprise a power cord that can be plugged into a female electrical outlet.

In an alternative embodiment 54 as is most clearly shown in FIG. 7, a pair of levers 56 might be provided that is each pivotally coupled to the reclining chair 12 on opposite sides of the reclining chair 12. Each lever 56 may be mechanically coupled to a respective one of the lifting units 30 for actuating the respective lifting unit 30 to urge the respective footrests 22 into or toward the raised position, the lowered position or any point therebetween. In this way the user 15 can manually operate each lifting unit.

In use, the user 15 sits in the reclining chair 12 and the user 15 depresses either the left button 40, the right button 38 or the both button 42, depending on whether the user 15 wishes to lift or raise their left leg, ankle or foot 24, their right leg, ankle or foot 24 or both legs 24. The user 15 depresses the lift button 44 to lift or raise whichever leg, ankle or foot 24 the user 15 wishes to lift. The user 15 depresses the lower button 46 to lower whichever leg, ankle or foot 24 was lifted. In this way the user 15 can lift or raise only one leg, ankle or foot 24 or both legs 24, depending on the user's 15 preference, for treating symptoms of gout, for example, that the user 15 might be suffering in only one leg, ankle or foot 24.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A reclining chair assembly having a pair of discrete foot rests thereby facilitating a user to elevate one or both of their legs while the user is sitting, said assembly comprising: a reclining chair having a backrest portion being disposed on a chair portion wherein said reclining chair is configured to have a user sit therein, said reclining chair having a pair of armrests, said reclining chair having a base configured to abut and extend along a supporting surface; a pair of footrests, each of said footrests being disposed on said chair portion of said reclining chair wherein each of said footrests is configured to be aligned with a respective one of the user's legs when the user is seated in said reclining chair, each of said footrests being positionable in a lowered position having said footrests lying against said chair portion, each of said footrests being positionable in a raised position wherein each of said footrests is configured to raise the respective user's leg, said pair of footrests being independently positionable in said raised position wherein said pair of footrests is configured to facilitate one of the user's legs to be lifted while the other of the user's legs is not lifted, wherein each of said foot rests has a front side and a back side, said back side of a respective footrest resting against said forward surface of said chair portion when said respective footrest is in said lowered position, said front surface of a respective footrest being oriented to lie on a horizontal plane when said respective footrest is positioned in said raised position wherein said respective footrest is configured to lift the respective user's leg; a pair of lifting units, each of said lifting units being integrated into said reclining chair, each of said lifting units being in mechanical communication with a respective one of said pair of footrests, each of said lifting units independently urging said respective footrest into said raised position when said lifting units are actuated into a raising condition, each of said lifting units independently urging said respective footrest into said lowered position when said lifting units are actuated into a lowering condition, wherein each of said lifting units comprises a motor being integrated into said reclining chair, said motor rotating in a first direction or a second direction, said motor being positioned on said base of said reclining chair, and a linkage comprising a plurality of members each being pivotally coupled together, said linkage being coupled between said motor and a back side of a respective footrest, said linkage extending adjacent to said base from said motor when said respective footrest is in said lowered position; and a control panel being integrated into a respective one of said armrests on said reclining chair wherein said control panel is configured to be accessible to the user, said control panel being in mechanical communication with each of said lifting units, said control panel independently actuating each of said lifting units in said raising condition or said lowering condition.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said linkage is manipulated into a collapsed position when said motor rotates in said first direction such that said linkage pulls said respective footrest against a forward surface of said chair portion.
 6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said linkage is manipulated into an extended position when said motor rotates in said second direction such that said linkage pushes said respective footrest away from a forward surface of said chair portion, said linkage tilting said footrest when said linkage is manipulated into said extended position thereby facilitating a front side of said respective footrest to lie on a horizontal plane.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said control panel includes a right button, a left button, a both button, a lift button and a lower button, said control panel being electrically coupled to said motor included in each of said lifting units, said right button actuating said motor included in a right hand side lifting unit, said left button actuating said motor included in a left hand side lifting unit, said both button actuating said motor included in both of said right hand side lifting unit and said left hand side lifting unit.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said motor that is actuated is turned on to rotate in said first direction when said lower button is depressed.
 9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said motor that is actuated is turned on to rotate in said second direction when said lift button is depressed.
 10. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply being integrated into said reclining chair, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control panel, said power supply comprising at least one battery.
 11. A reclining chair assembly having a pair of discrete foot rests thereby facilitating a user to elevate one or both of their legs while the user is sitting, said assembly comprising: a reclining chair having a backrest portion being disposed on a chair portion wherein said reclining chair is configured to have a user sit therein, said chair portion having a forward surface, said reclining chair having a pair of armrests, said reclining chair having a base configured to abut and extend along a supporting surface; a pair of footrests, each of said footrests being disposed on said chair portion of said reclining chair wherein each of said footrests is configured to be aligned with a respective one of the user's legs when the user is seated in said reclining chair, each of said footrests being positionable in a lowered position having said footrests lying against said chair portion, each of said footrests being positionable in a raised position wherein each of said footrests is configured to raise the respective user's leg, said pair of footrests being independently positionable in said raised position wherein said pair of footrests is configured to facilitate one of the user's legs to be lifted while the other of the user's legs is not lifted, each of said foot rests having a front side and a back side, said back side of a respective footrest resting against said forward surface of said chair portion when said respective footrest is in said lowered position, said front surface of a respective footrest being oriented to lie on a horizontal plane when said respective footrest is positioned in said raised position wherein said respective footrest is configured to lift the respective user's leg; and a pair of lifting units, each of said lifting units being integrated into said reclining chair, each of said lifting units being in mechanical communication with a respective one of said pair of footrests, each of said lifting units independently urging said respective footrest into said raised position when said lifting units are actuated into a raising condition, each of said lifting units independently urging said respective footrest into said lowered position when said lifting units are actuated into a lowering condition, each of said lifting units comprising: a motor being integrated into said reclining chair, said motor rotating in a first direction or a second direction, said motor being positioned on said base of said reclining chair; and a linkage comprising a plurality of members each being pivotally coupled together, said linkage being coupled between said motor and said back surface of a respective footrest, said linkage extending adjacent to said base from said motor when said respective footrest is in said lowered position, said linkage being manipulated into a collapsed position when said motor rotates in said first direction such that said linkage pulls said respective footrest against said forward surface of said chair portion, said linkage being manipulated into an extended position when said motor rotates in said second direction such that said linkage pushes said respective footrest away from said forward surface of said chair portion, said linkage tilting said footrest when said linkage is manipulated into said extended position thereby facilitating said front surface of said respective footrest to lie on said horizontal plane; a control panel being integrated into a respective one of said armrests on said reclining chair wherein said control panel is configured to be accessible to the user, said control panel being in mechanical communication with each of said lifting units, said control panel independently actuating each of said lifting units in said raising condition or said lowering condition, said control panel including a right button, a left button, a both button, a lift button and a lower button, said control panel being electrically coupled to said motor included in each of said lifting units, said right button actuating said motor included in a right hand side lifting unit, said left button actuating said motor included in a left hand side lifting unit, said both button actuating said motor included in both of said right hand side lifting unit and said left hand side lifting unit, said motor that is actuated being turned on to rotate in said first direction when said lower button is depressed, said motor that is actuated being turned on to rotate in said second direction when said lift button is depressed; and a power supply being integrated into said reclining chair, said power supply being electrically coupled to said control panel, said power supply comprising at least one battery. 